Former steward turned trainer Michael Costa has celebrated the most significant win of his career with Phobetor claiming some high-profile scalps to win the Group 2 Missile Stakes at Randwick.
Costa worked as a Racing NSW steward before taking out his trainers’ license and setting up a stable at Warwick Farm, making the move to Queensland five years ago.
He has notched a handful of black-type wins, including the 2020 Group Three Gunsynd Classic at Eagle Farm with Supergiant and last month’s Listed Grafton Cup with Purrfect Deal but Saturday’s performance by Phobetor eclipsed those.
Coming into Saturday’s race after a last-start second to Southern Lad in the Ramornie Handicap at Grafton, Phobetor ($5.50) was one of the least experienced horses in the seven-horse field but had the advantage of race fitness.
Tommy Berry settled him behind the speed set by Fasika, shouldering into the clear on straightening and surging through a narrow opening to race to a half-length victory over Chat ($13).
Fasika ($3.20 equal fav) held on for third another half-neck away, ahead of Viridine and the well-backed Kolding.
Costa was unable to be at Randwick due to the COVID-19 pandemic but Berry said the young trainer was confident Phobetor would acquit himself well, despite taking on more seasoned campaigners.
“He was really confident coming into today. He was under no illusion we were up against some pretty smart individuals, but we had the fitness edge on them,” Berry said.
“Michael has placed this horse really well. He has taken him through his grades, let him get plenty of confidence and his run in the Ramornie (when) he was slow away and three-wide the whole way and still only got beaten by a horse who has been well-performed, it was a good effort.”
Berry admitted to a few anxious moments when he needed a gap to appear between Fasika and Kolding at the top of the straight but said once it came, he knew Phobetor had their measure.
“At the half-mile I was off the bridle a little bit and I gave him a bit of a squeeze and he got over-travelling, so I knew I was there ready to pounce,” Berry said.
“I was just hoping Fasika kicked enough and Kolding, we know he’s best performed once he gets to 1400 metres and a mile, so once again I was hoping he left a bit of an opening for me.
“My bloke, as soon as he burst through, he was the winner. He’s a beautiful big horse, he’s a lovely type and he’s in at the right time of year.”
It was Berry’s second Missile Stakes win after he claimed the race aboard Sweet Idea for Gai Waterhouse in 2014.
